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The Ahmed family at the home of Jim and Peggy Karas, left, who were joined by other sponsors. The Ahmeds are refugees from Syria now living in Canada. Related ArticleCredit Damon Winter/The New York Times

For the second week in a row this summer, our Summer Reading Contest received over a thousand entries (1,098).

Below, enjoy the work of our Week 8 winner, AlishaPRHS2016, who
wrote about how many Canadians have welcomed Syrian refugees into their communities. Then scan the list of runners-up and honorable mentions to see the broad range of articles and topics that most interested a group
of teenagers reading The New York Times in early August.

Remember, just a few more days left. You have until 7 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 26 to post your final entries of the season.

Throughout mankind’s time one facet of humanity has consistently marred our civilizations: fear of the unknown. This fear is seen again in today’s treatment of Muslim refugees. As an American teen, I see
why people may fear these refugees. The media in all forms have consistently backed the trope depicting Muslims as terrorists.

However, as a Muslim who has always been preached patience and kindness, I struggle to accept the ease with which my community has been maligned for late night TV show jokes/attention grabbing news headlines. However,
reading “Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word: Welcome” renewed my faith that people are not blind to the unfair condemnation I see. The article celebrates Canada’s civilian run programs to help
these traumatized refugees assimilate. My parents were immigrants, and the tales of the trials they faced thirty years ago still brings tears to their eyes. I imagine an American guide could have eliminated years
of their suffering.

The Canadian program ensures refugees are becoming productive members of society and are not consistently running from the ghost of starvation or stuck behind the seemingly insurmountable language barrier. This article
was a refreshing break from the anti-Muslim rhetoric common in the media.

I don’t think the act of some extremists should condemn over 1.6 billion others. Reading this heartfelt article, I was touched to see these Muslim refugees being treated like what they are. People in need —
and nothing else.

Remember, any teenager anywhere in the world can enter our contest every week until Aug. 26 just by answering the question, What interested you most in The Times this week? To find the right place to post, check the top of this announcement for a link.